Officers shoot, kill dog after it bit boy in San Leandro

A police officer shot and killed one of two aggressive off-leash dogs after an 11-year-old boy was bit by one of the dogs on Saturday morning in San Leandro, according to police.

At about 10:00 a.m. police were dispatched to the 2600 block of Darius Way near Vista Grand Drive after receiving reports that two dogs were on the loose and that one had bit a child, officers said.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers spoke with an 11-year-old boy, who had been bit on his leg by one of two aggressive German Shepherd dogs that were running off-leash in the neighborhood, police said.

Officers also learned that the dogs had also been acting aggressively towards landscapers who were working nearby.

Police officers searched for the off-leash dogs and found them in a nearby yard. The dogs acted aggressively towards the officers before running away.

Officers caught up to the dogs and attempted to contain them until an animal control officer could arrive at the scene, according to police.

While officers tried to contain the dogs, one of the dogs aggressively charged at an officer, causing the officer to retreat and draw his handgun, police said.

As one of the dogs was about to jump toward the officer, he fired out of fear for his safety and those around him, striking the dog, police said.

Police said the dog was later pronounced dead at the scene and that the second dog was apprehended and quarantined by police.

The bite sustained by the 11-year-old was later determined to be superficial and not a serious injury, according to police.

The San Leandro Police Department is encouraging dog owners to ensure that their dogs are always secured in their homes or yards when unattended.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the San Leandro Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division at (510) 577-3230 or may do so anonymously by calling (510) 577-3278, or by sending an anonymous tip by texting the word SLPD and a tip to 847411. Anonymous web tips can be submitted on the police department's website at www.sanleandro.org/depts/pd/services/at.asp.